Vegan Pumpkin Pie Bars

Fall is prime pumpkin season & when I have a craving these vegan pumpkin pie bars always satisfy. They are creamy, rich & full of flavor.

The first step is to start with making the crust. Using brown sugar gives it a deeper flavor, but you can use any sugar. I use refined coconut oil, but you can used regular coconut oil just know that it could leave a hint of coconut flavor in the finished product. Begin by mixing together the coconut oil & sugar. Add in the vanilla extract, cinnamon & salt. Lastly, sift in the flour. Now you’ll have a dough that you can transfer to an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish. Press the dough evenly into the baking dish & bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

While the crust is baking you can prepare the pumpkin filling. I mix it together in one bowl, but you can use a blender or food processor if that makes it easier for you. Start by adding the can of pumpkin puree to a bowl then mix in the sugar, milk, vanilla, salt & flour. Instead of flour you can use cornstarch, this is what helps to thicken & set the pumpkin.

Don’t forget the pumpkin spice! Add 1 or 2 tablespoons depending upon how much flavor you want. I like a lot of pumpkin spice flavor so I usually add two tablespoons. I’ve also done a mix of one tablespoon pumpkin spice & one tablespoon apple spice. In the above picture the bar on the left has one tablespoon pumpkin spice & the bar on the right has two tablespoons of pumpkin spice. Adding more spice or using brown sugar will make your final pumpkin pie bars darker.

After twenty minutes of baking, take the crust out of the oven & pour the pumpkin pie filling on top. Stick the baking dish back into the oven & bake the filling for 30-35 minutes at 350F. Baking time depends on your oven & if you are using a metal or glass baking dish.

When the bars are done baking they will need to cool. This is the longest part of the process! I generally chill them in the fridge for three to four hours, but I have also put them in the freezer out of the oven for one to two hours & then have been in able to cut them for eating. These are great for breakfast, a snack or dessert. Do you like to eat your pumpkin pie bars with coffee or milk?

Namaste bitches,

Silvia

WHY SOUND MEDITATION?

What is most appealing to me about sound meditation is that it is a time where I can let go & relax. I just have to surrender the part of me that thinks I always have to be doing.

Before I thought you had to do yoga or traditional meditation to destress. I didn’t know it was possible to release stuck energy with sound.

There is something deeply gratifying in laying back & letting the sound vibrations shake loose anything that is no longer helpful to you.

namaste bitches,

Silvia